Recent studies suggest that indoor air quality and productivity of employees are related factors and that healthy air quality directly contributes to the performance of staff. Understanding the relationship between the two topics will help employers improve both air quality and the health and performance of their employees.

While corporate wellness programs often include instructions on diet and exercise to improve employee health and performance, wellness programs may want to start focusing on the environment of the office building itself. Recent studies have found a link between indoor air quality and productivity of staff. A good ventilation system will not only maintain the health and comfort of employees, it will also enhance their cognitive performance and efficiency. Why does poor air quality mean poorer employee performance, and what can be done to ensure the high quality of both?

Relationship between indoor air quality and productivity

Better air quality translates to fewer pollutants in the air and more oxygen. Improved oxygen flow to the brain results in better cognitive performance, while symptoms of oxygen deprivation include a decline in cognition. (1)

A joint study done by Harvard University and Syracuse University investigated the relationship between indoor air quality and productivity. The research teams tested employees under a variety of simulated office environments with various levels of carbon dioxide, emissions from office products and ventilation. The employees were tested and monitored under two different circumstances. One of the test conditions involved employees doing regular tasks in “green” conditions with improved ventilation where carbon dioxide and emission levels were reduced, while the other condition had the employees doing their tasks in regular office building conditions. (2)

“The employees who carried out their tasks under the green environment performed around 60% better in cognitive tasks than the employees who were tested in a standard office environment,” explains Kevin Wood, Camfil USA Vice President Sales & Marketing. “When ventilation was doubled in the green testing conditions, their cognitive performance increased by more than 100%. These findings are compelling reasons to get serious about indoor air quality and productivity in offices and other workplaces, it affects not only the health of your employees but your bottom line.”

In addition to the helpful effects of improved air quality on cognition, good air quality also improves general health. Yet another study was conducted which examined 10 green-certified buildings and found that employees in these circumstances dealt with around 30% fewer headaches and respiratory problems than employees in the average office building. This was on top of a 27% boost in performance on cognitive tasks. Employees even slept better at night.

Investing in the clean indoor air for employees quickly pays for itself. Recent research suggests that spending around $40 a person every year on indoor air quality results in around a $6500 increase in productivity.

Improving indoor air quality and productivity

Improving indoor air quality and productivity can be done once it is determined that a building has air quality problems. Variables like carbon dioxide emissions, humidity, airflow, and temperature can be analyzed to determine if there is a problem with indoor air quality. Preventative steps should also be taken to ensure good air quality. Heating and cooling systems and filters and purifiers should be regularly maintained and inspected to stop the spread of pollutants before they become an issue. (3)

There are three main strategies that must be integrated together to control indoor air quality. Pollutants should be diluted and removed from the building with ventilation, and filtration systems should be used to clean the air of remaining pollutants.

Sources of pollutants should be removed from the building or isolated from occupants using air pressure relationships and physical barriers. Biological contaminants like mold, bacteria, pollen, and other allergens can result from poor maintenance or cleaning and can be brought into the building by occupants or with introduced outside air. Chemical pollutants are often generated by products used within the building like chemical cleaners, or certain appliances. Indoor air quality management programs should work to minimize people’s exposure to these pollutants in the first place.

“As buildings have become increasingly energy efficient they have also become increasingly airtight. This means that less air is flowing in and out of the building, so pollutants can easily become trapped inside,” says Kevin Wood, Camfil USA Vice President Sales & Marketing. “Ventilation is necessary to control air quality under these conditions, as they function by diluting substances such as mold or carbon dioxide. HVAC systems are integral to maintaining good air quality, but they can also be sources of pollutants in some instances, as filters can become contaminated with moisture or dirt which may lead to microbial growth.” (4)

HVAC systems are most effective when designed to meet the needs of the building it is installed in, so if a building is modified the HVAC system should be upgraded to accommodate the changes. For instance, if an office building is retrofitted to hold more employees, the HVAC system should be changed as well.

Facility managers play a critical role in promoting both good indoor air quality and productivity. They should assess the current indoor air quality by reviewing records for HVAC design, installation, and operation and create an indoor air profile for the building that includes potential sources of indoor air pollution.

“Facility managers can educate staff about managing indoor air quality through training and policies for managing pollutant sources. Managers should maintain and operate the building and ventilation system, ensuring high-quality indoor air by creating and reinforcing standard operating and maintenance policies and by quickly responding to spills, floods, leaks or other accidents that could negatively affect indoor air quality”, explains Wood. “Finally, facility managers should be sure to manage potential sources of pollutants such as cigarette smoke, dust, and debris from construction, fumes from pest control products and exhaust fumes from garages.” (5)

]]>What Coal-Burning Plants Are Doing to the Environmenthttps://catalog.camfil.us/what-coal-burning-plants-are-doing-to-the-environment.html Tue, 26 Sep 2017 09:20:32 +0000https://catalog.camfil.us/?p=57037Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

In the America’s and the world’s endless thirst for energy to power our devices, home and industry, some areas have a dependence upon coal-burning technology to serve the demand for energy.

Throughout the world, coal-burning power plants are generating the energy required by millions of residences and commercial facilities. Although coal producers have taken steps to eliminate pollution associated with energy production the high volume of coal used still precipitates the introduction of pollutants into the air that may cause lung damage or other health concerns, especially for breathing-compromised individuals.

In areas of the world where proper point-of-production pollution controls are not used, serious consequences have been documented. In fact, in studies it was determined that burning coal caused nearly 400,000 premature deaths in China in 2013, according to the New York Times. Coal burning generates 40 percent of that country’s harmful pollutants commonly referred to as particulate matter (PM), contaminants that include solid and liquid airborne particles. (1) In these countries, coal may even be used in residence heating and cooking without any consideration for air cleaning.

There are three critical ranges of PM – PM10, MP2.5 and PM1. The latter, PM1 and PM2.5 are the most dangerous to human health because they are very small, smaller that the eye can see, which makes it easy for people to inhale or swallow these contaminants. Once PM enters the body, it can harm the lungs and respiratory passages, and studies have found that long-term exposure to PM1 and PM2.5 can cause decreased lung function, lung cancer and heart disease.

Coal-burning is especially dangerous in China because the country uses as much coal annually as all other countries combined, and coal burning in the country is the biggest source of both air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, the leading cause of climate change. In developed countries, such as the United States and Canada, utilities include equipment to limit coal emissions.

One of the dangers of coal-burning in other countries is that their pollution can travel through weather-related winds and currents and increase pollution levels in countries that do incorporate pollution controls.

So why is coal such a major contributor to pollution not just in China but in other developing countries throughout the world, and what steps are countries taking to reduce the amount of coal burned by power plants?

How Coal Power Causes Pollution

Coal is a combustible black fossil fuel that is made of carbonized plant matter found in deep underground reservoirs. It is a primary source of fuel in many countries, especially developing countries, because it is cheap and plentiful.

But as mentioned earlier, there are consequences to using this fossil fuel, which become clearer as you begin to understand how coal power causes pollution.

When coal is burned, it releases carbon dioxide (CO2), which scientists have found helps trap heat and is a primary cause of global warming. But long-term exposure to CO2 is also harmful to human health, because it can lead to dizziness, difficulty breathing, headache and an inability to make logical decisions.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, the average coal-burning plant in the U.S. creates 3.5 million tons of CO2 each year, making the U.S. and China the countries with the largest total coal emissions in the world. (2) CO2 has a direct effect on depleting the ozone layer that protects us from harmful effects of the sun 9 to 20 miles above the surface of the earth.

What makes coal burning even more dangerous to human health is that it also generates sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury and lead.

Coal burning plants are the biggest generators of sulfur dioxide in the U.S., and sulfur dioxide has been linked with lung disease due to microscopic, acidic particulates that enter the lungs.

Nitrogen oxide (NOx) has been linked with the creation of ground level ozone that contributes to lung tissue damage, worsens asthma conditions and increases the risk of people developing respiratory illnesses.

Numerous studies have identified PM as a contributor to illnesses such as bronchitis, lung disease, and heart disease. In fact, people in countries where PM is at a high level often experience higher incidences of premature deaths. And to put things into perspective, the average coal-burning plant emits 500 tons of PM into the environment each year.

How to Reduce Coal Pollution

Countries are beginning to find answers to the challenge of how to reduce coal pollution.

In the U.S. for example, CO2 emissions from all power plants decreased 21 percent from 2005 to 2015, driven in large part by the country’s adoption of the Clean Power Plan. (3)

Part of this decrease in emissions has been achieved by a gradual shift from coal-burning plants to plants that generate electricity through natural gas although that alternative can also produce carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide.

Both types of energy producing facilities have also taken steps to limit emissions at the source through the use of industrial air cleaning equipment as they meet tightened emission regulations authored by cognizant government authorities.

China is following the U.S.’s lead and is investing in other sources of clean energy, while also implementing stricter emission standards for coal-burning plants.

“Coal is an inexpensive way for developing countries to generate the power necessary to meet increasing energy demands,” Kevin Wood, Camfil USA Vice President Sales & Marketing. “But the consequence of coal-fired power plants as well as coal used for household cooking is that it creates toxic pollutants. Countries are beginning to implement clean-energy solutions to lower outdoor coal pollution. They are also implementing public education strategies to help their citizens begin the shift from coal-based cooking to electrical and gas-based cooking.”

As countries around the world grapple with how to handle pollution generated by coal-burning plants, government officials continue to urge the public to join in the fight.

About Camfil

Camfil’s air filter products have a 5-STAR Energy Cost Index (ECI) Rating — the highest rating available. Our air filters also offer the longest life and lowest average pressure drop over the life of the filter, guaranteed. Camfil’s driving principle is providing quality at an affordable price, and the company’s guiding principle is that clean air should be every human’s right

]]>Camfil Air Filters Announces Support of New ISO 16890 Standard for Air Filtrationhttps://catalog.camfil.us/camfil-air-filters-announces-support-of-new-iso-16890-standard-for-air-filtration.html Sat, 23 Sep 2017 07:33:11 +0000https://catalog.camfil.us/?p=55495Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Air filtration standards will now be uniform throughout the world

Camfil is pleased to announce its support of a new ISO 16890 standard that is an alternative to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 52:2 standard that has been used in the U.S., and EN779 that was used in Europe and other parts of the world. ISO 16890 creates a global standard that brings harmony and unity to the way air filter efficiency is measured.

“We welcome the new ISO standard, because of its worldwide application to air filtration efficiency,” stated Kevin Wood, Camfil USA Vice President Sales & Marketing. “To this point, there has not been a global standard that eliminates confusion between countries as to which of the standards in use are superior. This was a decision that was made with the cooperation of all countries involved, which shows the need for a standard that all stakeholders could agree was necessary given the challenges we face fighting pollution across the globe.”

The ISO 16890 standard – which took effect on December 1, 2016 – creates new guidelines for air filter efficiency with values that replace the old ASHRAE standards’ Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV). In the past, ASHRAE 52.2 and EN779 were a cause of confusion among air filter consumers as they were unsure how to compare efficiency rates in countries that did not use the same standards.

“This new standard clears the field for both air filter consumers and air filter manufacturers,” added Wood. “With ISO 16890, comparisons are now useful, because every filter is subject to the same standards. Therefore, consumers can compare air filtration products and devices on an equal basis, and decide what works best for their needs. In the long run, this will also benefit consumers because it will drive out some of the lower-quality products from the market.”

The ISO 16890 Standard also rates the ability of air filters to trap ultrafine particles, referred to as PM1, that are one micron or less in diameter. Furthermore, air filters are now tested for efficiency when they are new, and also after their electrostatic charge has faded or been removed. This secondary testing is important because studies have found that electrostatic charges artificially enhance air filter performance during lab testing. The requirement of a second test now provides a true analysis of an air filter’s capability to trap hazardous particles.

]]>Should You Extend the Time Between PM Service Calls?https://catalog.camfil.us/should-you-extend-the-time-between-pm-service-calls.html Fri, 22 Sep 2017 09:26:40 +0000https://catalog.camfil.us/?p=55032Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Base PM schedule on equipment needs, not air filter changes.

Ask drivers how often they should change oil in their cars and you’ll likely hear an answer that’s been repeated for generations: ‘three months or every 3,000 miles, whichever comes first.’ The performance of older automobile engines and the low quality of motor oil demanded a short interval be followed to avoid expensive repairs. However, that may no longer be valid as improvements to automotive engines and advancement in oil chemistry has changed the paradigm; saving many companies significant internal or external labor hours and cost.

While car manufacturers are extending maintenance intervals up to 10,000 miles in some cases, that message has not yet reached everyone. Quick in-and-out oil change shops with guilt inducing windshield stickers, are doing their best to insure the 3,000 mile/ three-month oil change remains firmly in place, for obvious reasons.

Oil change intervals are not the only maintenance cycle under challenged due to advanced technology. Recent improvements to HVAC equipment, building automation systems and air filter technology have progressed to the point where the question should be asked: Is it also time to rethink the industry standard of quarterly PM service calls on your HVAC equipment?

Let’s look at just a few recent technical innovations on three key components of HVAC systems and how they give you flexibility when determining the optimum interval between PM calls.

1. Like most mechanical systems, HVAC equipment has benefited from the improved reliability of raw materials in the supply chain. Stress fractures from the vibration of moving parts for example, is less of an issue as the consistency of metals and other materials used for structural supports have become more reliable. Belts, which in the past required regular inspections, now routinely run a minimum of one year between adjustments.

If we look inside at the heart of an HVAC systems, new variable speed compressor technology reduces wear and tear by matching the compressor’s operational speed to the demand load. This also reduces repeated startups from a dead stop which is not only hard on equipment, but requires significant energy.

If the compressor is the heart of the system, coils are the veins and arteries. Micro-channel coil technology, borrowed from the automotive industry, utilizes aluminum tubes as opposed to fins. These tubes are much sturdier with a higher resistance to corrosion. The manufacturing technique used to produce these coils has fewer critical inherent failure points which further improves reliability.

2. A maintenance office in today’s world may resemble an air traffic control tower due to the expanded use of building automation systems. It was not all that long ago, the ability to continuously monitor and adjust the performance of your HVAC equipment from a single computer terminal was limited to Fortune 500 companies with deep pockets. That is no longer the case as the widespread use of this technology has brought its benefits within nearly everyone’s budget.

These systems give the user the ability to monitor the current condition of multiple units with the same level of confidence as a visual inspection. As software continuously improves, diagnostic functions and even equipment failure predictions, will allow managers to avoid running equipment to failure between pre-scheduled maintenance calls.

3. The air filter is the final piece of the puzzle. More than the other two components, the service life of the pleated air filter has historically been the primary driver when developing a PM schedule. In the past, air filters would need replacing every three months. The lack of technical innovation to improve service life by air filter manufacturers coupled with service contractors who built their business models on four changes per year, left the industry with their version of the “3000 mile oil change.”

However, according to Camfil USA’s Food and Beverage Segment Manager, Mark Davidson; “While today’s pleated air filters may look the same as they used to, the similarity ends there. Today, you can find structurally strong, water-resistant pleated filters produced from multiple fiber densities with higher MERV ratings. It may be a surprise to learn, but 12-month service life guarantees are now available”

“Be an active participant when selecting air filters that protect your people and your products. Everyone in the supply chain doesn’t have the same motives so it’s up to user to request test reports or modeling software projections. After purchase and installation, validate those lab reports with actual field testing to confirm performance.”

“Also, demand those service life guarantees,” says Davidson, “and take advantage of those filters capable of delivering higher performance. PM schedules can now be developed after removing the service life of the air filter from the equation. In other words, create PM schedules based solely upon the needs and performance of equipment; not because an air filter needs to be changed.”

Based on the advancement in equipment performance, building controls and air filter technology, should building managers rethink the practice of automatically scheduling quarterly PM service calls? It may be hard to say yes to that question, but remember that improvements in the auto industry challenged something as deep-seated as the 3000-mile oil change, and we are all the better for it. Overall cost to the consumer is down, performance is up and we are disposing of far less waste oil.

In the HVAC world, it seems technological improvements now allow PM schedules to be based primarily on the mechanical needs of the equipment and not because the air filters need changing. System performance is improved, overall cost down and far fewer dirty filters shipped to landfills.

CONCLUSION:

For more than 50 years, Camfil has sold value added energy and labor saving air filtration products to commercial facilities.

Camfil air filters remove not only dust, but fine particles down to the sub-micron level.

Instead of just improving the air quality, air filters can also save money through a reduction in energy costs. Without effective air filtration systems, indoor pollutants can cause a variety of health problems.

Clean air is a human right because it is essential for life.

Camfil is focused on creating a better future. Camfil air filtration products today are delivering unmatched results, in terms of both filtration and energy efficiency, but there is still much work to be done.

20 percent of the world’s oxygen is created by the Amazon Rainforest. Rainforests are natural air filters but they’re being destroyed. Here’s why that matters.

The world’s rainforests are an ecosystem that supports thousands of animal species, but they also have a lesser-known function that is equally important: acting as natural air filters. What does that mean?

Rainforests create 20 percent of the world’s supply of oxygen, which means that the more trees we lose due to deforestation, the less supply of clean air in the world. (1)

The plight of the rainforests around the world may seem as if it doesn’t affect you, but you would be wrong. Not only do rainforests play a critical role in the formation of clean air, they are also important in the fight against air pollution. Let’s take a look at the characteristics that make rainforests so important, the efforts to preserve these areas, and how you can naturally purify the air at your home and workplace.

Why Rainforests Are Important in the Fight Against Pollution

There are many reasons why rainforests are important in the fight against pollution, and we’ve touched briefly on several of them, but it’s worth taking a deeper look.

Rainforests have a dense collection of trees, and studies have found that trees have a unique and powerful ability to interact and dilute some of the worst airborne pollutants through the world.

But according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), forests can help lower air pollution by absorbing these contaminants without suffering any harm.

Trees may absorb some pollutants in the natural life processes common to all plants. In an exchange of gases, plants take in carbon dioxide, convert it to food, and release oxygen. During normal opening of these pores, other elements may also enter. These include pollutants such as chlorine, sulfur dioxide, and fluorides.” (2)

Plants use some of these pollutants as nutrients, helping to purify the air.

Another reason trees act as natural air filters are that their leaves have spines and hair that can trap pollutants. Even more fascinating, the number of pores on a leaf generates an electrical charge, which can attract airborne particulates.

Furthermore, studies have found that the rough fissures in the bark of a tree can trap and absorb pollutants.

“Rainforests are critically important in the fight against airborne pollutants,” stated Armando Brunetti, Camfil Americas Executive Vice President. “The ability of this ecosystem to absorb carbon dioxide and form a shelter against harmful contaminants is invaluable. That’s why we have partnered with World Wide Fund for Nature to preserve a part of the Borneo rainforest. We are committed to doing our part to support nature’s own air filters.”

Rainforest Conservation Efforts

Unfortunately, deforestation is proceeding at such a rapid rate that rainforest conservation efforts have become a race against time.

According to Conserve Energy Future, at the current rate of deforestation, there will be no rainforests in 100 years. That’s because 1.5 acres of forest are destroyed every second, which is equivalent to 20 football fields being destroyed every minute. (3)

Not only will deforestation affect the world’s clean air supply, it will also cause nearly 30,000 animal species to become extinct in the next 25 years.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) reported that with the forests gone, [carbon dioxide] is no longer converted through photosynthesis, and the crops that replace forests only absorb a fraction of [carbon dioxide] compared to rainforests. Along with industrial pollution, rampant deforestation in South America and elsewhere has significantly increased the amount of [carbon dioxide] in the atmosphere. (4)

Given this grim reality, conservation is critical to saving these forests, and some common rainforest conservation methods include:

Urging a consumer boycott of palm oil products – palm oil production is one of the major reasons rainforest trees are cut down, to make room for the planting of oil palm trees

Prosecuting illegal loggers who cut down trees – illegal loggers are a major source of deforestation as they chop down trees for third parties

But saving rainforests is difficult to achieve without a political solution that convinces government officials to change their mindset about the importance of preserving these special areas in the world.

Purifying Your Air Naturally

Rainforests are natural air filters, but purifying your air naturally, does not require you to live in that environment. Some natural ways to improve indoor air quality is to buy more plants, which can create more oxygen and absorb more carbon dioxide, and increase the flow of outdoor air by opening more windows.

Camfil air products can be used to filter and clean the air in any indoor environment. Our products represent the very best in air filtration technology and innovation. From replacement filters, capable of removing sub-micron sized particles and gases, to complete air circulation and filtration systems, every product is backed with more than 50 years of experience.

]]>What are the Effects of Corrosion?https://catalog.camfil.us/what-are-the-effects-of-corrosion.html Wed, 23 Aug 2017 03:02:28 +0000https://catalog.camfil.us/?p=41102Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Some of the effects of corrosion include a significant deterioration of natural and historic monuments. Air pollution causes corrosion, and it’s becoming worse worldwide.

One of the consequences of air pollution that is seldom talked about is the effect of corrosion on man-made materials throughout the world. As air pollution levels have risen in industrialized countries, so too has there been a corresponding increase in corrosion levels. But this doesn’t just affect man-made monuments; it also affects things closer to homes such as vehicles, barbecue grills, outdoor furniture and household tools.

Corrosion also degrades important infrastructure such as steel-reinforced- highways, electrical towers, parking structures and bridges. In short, corrosion is a subject that bears further investigation, so that you can understand how this hidden degradation impacts your life.

What Is Corrosion?According to EonCoat, corrosion is the process of decay on a material caused by a chemical reaction with its environment. Corrosion of metal occurs when an exposed surface comes in contact with a gas or liquid, and the process is accelerated by exposure to warm temperature, acids, and salts.” (1)

Although the word ‘corrosion’ is used to describe the decay of metals, all natural and man-made materials are subject to decay, and the level of pollutants in the air can speed up this process.

The reason is that airborne contaminant such as particulate matter (PM) are created because of the chemical reactions between liquids and solids. These same liquids and solids, including salt and black carbon, can interact with the molecules within metals and accelerate decay.

In fact, Corrosion Doctors have identified sulfur dioxide that is generated by power plant emissions and vehicle emissions as one of the biggest contributors to corrosion. (2)

High levels of sulfur dioxide can damage trees and plants by destroying foliage and inhibiting future growth.

But sulfur dioxide doesn’t just help degrade metal and other materials; it also has some harmful health effects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that short-term exposure to sulfur dioxide can worsen asthma symptoms and make breathing difficult. (3)

Atmospheric Corrosion Study Sheds More Light

A recent atmospheric corrosion study has helped to shed more light about how airborne pollutants directly affect metals in an industrial city environment.

Researchers began with the thesis that atmospheric corrosion of metals and their alloys is very common in the industrial city environment due to the high concentration of corrosive pollutants in the air. (4)

In other words, researchers theorized that air pollution in a major city would accelerate the corrosion process and help degrade metals faster than if the pollution was at a lower level.

To test this theory, researchers exposed various metal samples to an industrial city environment for 12 months to determine the effect of airborne particulates on the rate of corrosion. They chose an area within the test city that had a high level of pollutants.

The study found that metals corroded at a much faster rate during the winter when pollution levels were at their highest. This increase in pollution was caused by higher emissions generated by nearby power plants and heating plants, as well as from vehicle emissions and heating furnaces that were in wide use due to the cold weather.

The most common pollutants that accelerated corrosion were sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, dust and humidity.

The Effects of Corrosion

So what are the effects of corrosion that could actually affect your daily life?

Vortex Energy Saver identifies some of the direct effects of corrosion, which include: (5)

Damage to commercial airplanes that could result in possible in-flight problems

Damage to oil pipelines that could cause a costly and dangerous rupture that creates significant environmental damage.

Damage to bridge supports that could cause a bridge failure

Release of harmful pollutants from iron corrosion that contaminates the air

Costs of repairing or replacing household equipment that fails

“We know that many commercial industries such as oil and gas, construction and electronics are vulnerable to the effects of corrosion,” stated Trent Thiel, Camfil USA Molecular Filtration

Segment Manager. “Without control methods, there is likely to be equipment and structural failure that can have catastrophic consequences. That’s why molecular filtration is so vital to removing corrosive agents from the air and ensuring structural integrity.”

Prevent Corrosion at Home

There are several ways you can prevent corrosion at home. First, you can use surface treatments on all metals to protect them from airborne pollutants. Second, you can galvanize all metal products, which makes them highly resistant to corrosion. And third, you can invest in high-efficiency air filters to improve your indoor air quality and eliminate harmful pollutants that contribute to the corrosion process.

CAMFIL:

For more than 50 years, Camfil has been providing the most technologically-advanced air filtration systems. Camfil offers the most efficient industrial filtration solutions to clients throughout the world, and has built its reputation on providing quality on a budget. Camfil operates under the guiding principle that clean air is the right of all humans no matter where they live. The company offers clean air solutions that will improve your indoor air quality and eliminate harmful pollutants that help facilitate the corrosion process.

]]>Living Near an Airport Could Be a Matter Of Life And Deathhttps://catalog.camfil.us/living-near-an-airport-could-be-a-matter-of-life-and-death.html Wed, 16 Aug 2017 22:46:31 +0000https://catalog.camfil.us/?p=38818Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Studies have found that people living near an airport can experience a higher rate of respiratory problems due to elevated airplane emissions that contain hazardous contaminants.

Recent studies have found that living near an airport could be hazardous to your health.

One air quality study found that neighborhoods as far as 10 miles away from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are contaminated with high levels of ultrafine particles that can easily be swallowed or inhaled. These particles are hazardous to human health because they can penetrate in to the lungs and into breathing passages and worsen asthma symptoms, as well as lead to decreased lung function and impair cognitive ability in children.

Researchers have known for years that the exhaust from aircraft contains ultrafine particles that are harmful to human health. But a growing body of studies is finding that far from just being contained within a small area, airport pollution can spread much further out than previously thought, and cause real health problems in residential areas where people are unaware of the risk. This is an issue that affects everyone concerned about the quality of air where they live.

Airport Pollution Facts

To fully understand this issue, it’s important to detail some airport pollution facts.

According to the Los Angeles Times, aircraft exhaust is the main source of airport pollution at major urban areas in the U.S. The reason is that scorching exhaust vapor from airplanes creates ultrafine particles, which can worsen lung and heart conditions, aggravate bronchitis and emphysema, and even lead to blocked arteries. (1)

These ultrafine particles are, “less than one-thousandth the width of a human hair [and] they can go deep in the lungs, make their way into the bloodstream and spread to the brain, heart and other critical organs. While emissions of slightly larger exhaust particles are regulated, ultrafine particles are not.”

Therefore, the majority of airborne pollutants generated by aircraft exhaust are not regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is of great concern, because of the number of major airports throughout the U.S.

Another source of concern is the LAX study, which found that neighborhoods as far as 10 miles away from the airport had elevated particle levels due to airport emissions.

And the level of pollution at LAX was equivalent to the emissions generated by nearly 500 vehicles stalled in freeway traffic every day.

What’s worse is that researchers have also detected other harmful pollutants in and around airports, such as nitrogen oxide – which creates smog – and black carbon, “a major component of soot found in engine exhaust.”

And it’s not just major airports that are a risk because the American Chemical Society reported that emissions from regional airports were “significantly elevated when compared to background pollution levels.” (2)

Controlling Airport Related Pollution

Given these facts, controlling airport related pollution is vital to preventing the health problems caused by the dispersion of ultrafine particles into the atmosphere.

Some airports have acted on their own and implemented new policies in an effort to reduce emission levels.

According to Enviro Aero, some airports provide electric power and air supplies at terminal gates, which allows pilots to turn off auxiliary power in aircrafts, “reducing fuel burn and pollutants.” (3)

Other airports have tried to shrink the amount of time that airplanes taxi on the runway waiting for a gate to open.

In addition, some airports have begun tackling the problem of emissions generated by vehicles used on the tarmac. They are exploring the effectiveness of alternative fuels, including liquid petroleum gas and compressed natural gas that have less harmful emissions than diesel and gasoline.

“Lowering the rate of pollution at airports is a difficult task,” stated Kevin Wood, Camfil USA Vice President Sales & Marketing. “It will require a change of mindset by airport officials in terms of how they manage aircraft on the runway. For example, an airport in Minnesota now requires airplanes to remain at cruising altitude for a longer period of time before they approach the airport. As a result, planes burn less fuel and emit less carbon dioxide.”

And as mentioned earlier, this isn’t just an issue for airports but is vital for people living near an airport who are being harmed by the level of pollution generated by planes that take off and land each day.

Airport Pollution Prevention

If you live near an airport, you can take steps to help improve the quality of the air you breathe. First, recognize that you spend most of your time indoors; so indoor air quality is vital to your health. Second, invest in an air purifier that is rated to remove gas and particle pollution from the air. Third, make sure that you install air filters in your HVAC system that can trap the common pollutants generated by airport emissions.

Camfil is also one of the most global air filtration specialists in the world with 26 production units and R&D centers in four countries in the Americas, Europe, South East Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. Backed by over 50 years of experience and innovation, every Camfil product is designed to provide high-efficiency air filtration, low energy consumption, and a healthier environment. Camfil has a solution that is right for you.

Other Resources for you

Learn about how an airport in Minnesota is trying to tackle air quality in our Previous blog post

]]>Deep dive into air purifiers such as the CamCleanerhttps://catalog.camfil.us/deep-dive-into-air-purifiers-such-as-the-camcleaner.html Tue, 15 Aug 2017 23:19:39 +0000https://catalog.camfil.us/?p=38457Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Throughout the world, pollution is getting worse, and indoor air is nearly as bad as what you find outdoors. Are air purifiers the solution?

As outdoor pollution worsens throughout the world, especially in large countries such as China and India, it has a direct effect on indoor air quality. That’s because polluted air that is drawn indoors can pose a direct threat to your health if you don’t take steps to lessen its adverse effects. One of the ways that you can reduce indoor air pollution is through the use of air purifiers, devices that clean the air you breathe.

Air purifiers come in a wide range of styles, sizes and with various technological innovations, but their main purpose is to eliminate common pollutants such as dust, smoke, pet dander and pollen from the air. And beyond just making the air you breathe cleaner and healthier; air purifiers can also prevent long-term respiratory ailments such as lung disease.

Importance of Clean Air for Health

According to Air-Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating News (ACHR), fine particles in the air that are often too small to be seen by the naked eye can penetrate your lungs and breathing passages and cause serious illnesses such as a heart attack or a stroke, which highlights the importance of clean air for health. (1)

These airborne particles – often referred to as particulate matter (PM) – will continue to compromise your health unless you eliminate them using air purifiers that incorporate high-efficiency air filters.

Multiple studies have found that the lower your exposure to these pollutants, the less the risk of respiratory problems that can shorten your lifespan. In fact, throughout the world, outdoor and indoor air pollution has been tied to premature deaths, which are defined as deaths caused by external factors that killed people long before their natural life expectancy.

That need has spurred the growth of air purifier companies that offer you several options when it comes to improving indoor air quality.

Are Air Purifiers Worth It?

But before you make this investment in your health, you are probably asking this question: Are air purifiers worth it?

The answer is that any device that can actually eliminate harmful pollutants from the air is probably worth your time, but every household and workplace has different needs, which is why it’s so important to know what products are out there.

The most common types of air purifiers are:

HEPA Filter Purifier – they feature High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters that are rated to trap at least 99.97 percent of all harmful particulates in the air that are 0.3 microns or larger. Particulates in this size range include bacteria and mold. One thing to remember is that HEPA filters do not eliminate odors, or remove chemicals and gases.

Activated Carbon Purifier – they feature filters with sub-micron pores that are highly absorbent. They are great if you want to eliminate gases, chemicals, tobacco smoke and bad odors.

UV Technology Purifier– they feature ultraviolet (UV) lamps that eliminate pollutants by neutralizing them with UV rays. They can be effective for eliminating bacteria and viruses.

Negative Ion Purifier – they feature negative ions that magnetically attract particles such as dust and pollen, and make them too heavy to remain airborne. The pollutants then stick to surfaces such as walls, requiring you to clean those surfaces to get rid of the particulates.

“Air cleaners can help improve indoor air quality,” stated Steve Smith, Camfil USA CamCleaner Segment Manager. “But it is important for people to test the air quality first, so that they can buy purifiers that are designed to eliminate the specific pollutants at their home or workplace.”

CamCleaner Commercial Air Purifier

In addition to residential air purifiers, there are also options for commercial facilities that often combine removal of airborne particles as well as harmful gases.

The CamCleaner is an example of this type of purifier and is ideal for commercial facilities with high concentrations of particulates, such as warehouses, food processing plants and welding factories.

The Cam Cleaner features a full-size air intake that draws contaminants out of the room, and re-circulates clean air into the facility by using air filtration. The purifier also offers HEPA filters to trap smaller, difficult to trap contaminants. (2)

The CamCleaner was designed as a primary or secondary method to improve the indoor air quality of a commercial facility, in conjunction with the use of high-efficiency filters in the existing HVAC system.

Other Ways to Keep Your Air Clean

In addition to investing in air purifiers, there are other ways to keep your air clean. You can avoid using wood-burning fireplaces, reduce your use of chemical disinfectants or cleaners, control pet dander by washing your pets frequently, and prevent dust mites by washing your linens in hot water.

The benefits of taking steps to improve the quality of indoor air are both numerous and well documented. You can improve your day-to-day life and the well-being of everyone around you, from family to friends. Camfil produces a full line of air filtration products, from self-contained air purifiers to clean a single room all the way up to highly-advanced filters and complete systems designed to remove dangerous microscopic contaminants from the most polluted industrial environments as well.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that indoor air quality may be two to 200 times worse than outdoor air quality. Do you have an indoor air filtration strategy?

While statistics may sometimes overwhelm you with numbers, it is important to cite some figures when discussing outdoor air pollution, indoor air quality and the need for an effective air filtration strategy to combat airborne contaminants.

According to the EPA, indoor air quality (IAQ) is defined as the quality of air within a commercial building or residence as measured by the number of airborne particulates that can worsen asthma and allergies and cause serious health problems such as reduced lung function and lung cancer. (1)

And the EPA has found that a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities.”

Why is that something you should worry about? Because most of us spend 90 percent of our time inside an office, home or other types of workplace, and that means we are continuously exposed to pollutants than can affect our long-term health.

That’s why air filtration is such a vital part of protecting your health, especially at commercial facilities where workers toil eight hours or more per day. This article provides some important takeaways from Camfil’s recent presentation at the 2017 Premier Breakthrough Conference in June, that can help you understand some of the challenges and solutions in improving air quality throughout the world.

Camfil’s 50-Year Commitment to Commercial Air Filtration

One of the key takeaways from the Premier Breakthrough Conference was the years of commitment that Camfil has made to the commercial air filtration industry.

Camfil is one of the leading commercial air filter companies in the world. It was established in 1963 and has been manufacturing high-efficiency air filters and air purifying products that are designed to provide improved indoor air quality, save energy costs and provide years of service.

Camfil is a global, privately held company that is 100 percent dedicated to the air filtration market. In 2017, the company anticipates $750 million in sales and is well positioned throughout the world with 26 manufacturing plants, six research and development centers, and more than 4,000 employees.

Camfil operates under the principle that ‘Clean Air Is a Human Right,’ which refers to the fact that the World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported that, 98% of cities in low-and-middle income countries with more than 100,000 inhabitants do not meet WHO air quality guidelines. However, in high-income countries, that percentage decreases to 56%”, (2) still a significant if not surprising number.

Clearly, developing countries are not playing on a level field, and in fact, some of these larger nations such as India and China are only now beginning to develop clean air solutions such as a shift to clean energy to reduce their level of toxic emissions.

Given these challenges, Camfil has a three-fold mission:

Comfort Air – the goal with ‘Comfort Air’ is to protect people by improving IAQ within the indoor facilities they most frequent, such as malls, shopping centers, retail shops, restaurants, and hospitals.

Clean Process – the goal with ‘Clean Process’ is to improve industrial and medical processes where airborne contaminants can jeopardize the desired output, either a quality product or a healthy individual.

Safety & Protection – the goal with ‘Safety & Protection’ is to protect the environment by eliminating harmful airborne pollutants and gases that may cause serious immediate damage to the environment or people.

Reducing the Total Cost of Air Filtration

Another takeaway from the conference was Camfil’s goal of reducing the total cost of air filtration for commercial facilities.

One of the main ways to lower the costs of air filters is to build filters that do not require frequent replacement. The average commercial air filter is made to last only several months before it has to be replaced.

In the commercial air filtration industry, these are known as ‘sacrificial’ air filters, because their purpose is to provide short-term use at low-cost prices.

The problem with sacrificial air filters, however, is that you will need to replace them three or four times a year, and in a commercial facility, the cost of multiple installations can start to add up.

Camfil’s solution is to make filters with a lifespan of as many as two years, which drastically lowers costs by limiting installation expenses and lowering energy costs by providing filters that remain efficient for a far longer period of time.

The latest version is known as LLC Green, which allows you to compare air filters based on filter efficiency, filter life, filter change labor, filter cost, and disposal costs. Once all these factors are input, the software produces a life cycle cost for the selected filter, which gives you real-world expenses based on the type of filter you select.

Air Filters and Energy Savings

As previously discussed, using standard air filters typically results in multiple changes, which increase the cost of filter ownership. But there is another aspect of cost savings related to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system at a commercial facility.

The typical breakdown of energy costs at a commercial facility is:

25.9% of costs are due to fans

24.2% of costs are due to steam for heating

18% of costs are due to miscellaneous equipment

15.6% of costs are due to lighting

11.5% of costs are due to cooling

2.6% of costs are due to HVAC pumps

The fans, cooling, pumps, and steam for heating are all part of HVAC system, which means 65% of energy costs at the average commercial facility are directly related to HVAC.

Camfil filters are able to maintain proper airflow and are made so that the HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard to draw air through the ducts and vents. This means less energy is expended, resulting in monthly savings.

Mobile Air Quality Testing

Another important highlight of the presentation was Camfil’s ongoing commitment to using mobile laboratories to test the efficiency of theirs and even competitors’ air filters, and to test the ambient air quality specific to that location.

The Camfil mobile labs are equipped with testing rigs that analyze filter performance under real-life environmental conditions. Furthermore, the mobile labs can also analyze air quality around a commercial facility such as a hospital, determine whether the facility’s existing filtration is sufficient to eliminate airborne contaminants and design an air filtration strategy based on the unique needs of that facility.

Camfil also offers a mobile media tester, which analyzes the media used in your existing filters to determine if they are properly trapping the pollutants to improve IAQ. Air filters use media material such as synthetics, coarse media fibers, microfine media fibers, and polyesters.

The Mobile Media Tester can analyze any media based on existing samples and let you know whether the filters in use at the facility are efficient.

Clean Air Matters for Good Health…and a Lot More

If there is one overriding principle that was evident at the presentation is that clean air matters for good health and for an improved quality of life. People throughout the world should have the right to breathe clean air, regardless of economic status.

But too often, children and the elderly in disadvantaged countries are paying the price of outdoor air pollution at a disproportionate rate to other groups. That’s because the undeveloped immune systems of children, and the weakened immune systems of the elderly makes both groups more vulnerable to contaminated air.

“Clean air is a human right,” stated Kevin Wood, Camfil USA Vice President Sales & Marketing. “Breathing air is the most basic and instinctive thing that we do from the time that we are born. But polluted air poses health risks to millions of people throughout the world, and the numbers are proving it. The WHO has sounded the alarm about fatalities linked to diseases that are caused by air pollution, and countries such as China and India are now heavily investing in clean sources of energy to lower their polluted air. This is not simply an environmental issue; it is a life or death issue, a question of what kind of world we are leaving to the next generation.”

While it’s true that clean air matters for good health, this is just the beginning of the story. Clean air also affects workplace productivity because of employee absences due to pollution-related ailments.

Clean air also affects the rate of classroom attendance, because children with asthma and other respiratory conditions tend to miss more school when air pollution levels are higher. And finally, clean air matters because it is not a privilege, it is an inalienable right.

50 Years of Air Filtration Solutions

For more than 50 years, Camfil has been waging a battle against outdoor pollution. Our commercial air filtration products are designed to help eliminate harmful particulates and to help keep you healthy. Please visit our website for more information about our products.

]]>How a High-Efficiency Air Filter Could Save Your Lifehttps://catalog.camfil.us/how-a-high-efficiency-air-filter-could-save-your-life.html Tue, 08 Aug 2017 22:15:08 +0000https://catalog.camfil.us/?p=36057Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Studies have shown that high-efficiency air filters can improve air quality, and help prevent lung cancer and heart disease. But how exactly are these filters rated for efficiency?

When you hear the term ‘high-efficiency air filter’ what do you think? Like most people, you probably think of hard-working filters that can improve the air you breathe, and that’s true. But do you understand how a filter achieves high-efficiency? Or what that phrase even means?

This is important is because without understanding the basic standards of air filter efficiency, you won’t understand how to shop for the best filters, or what the terminology companies often use really means. With that in mind, let’s look at how high-efficiency filters are measured, and why they are so important in the fight to improve indoor air quality.

Explaining the MERV Standard

Explaining the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) standard is a good place to start, because this is the standard established by the American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), which oversees the air filtration industry.

According to the National Air Filtration Association (NAFA), MERV is based on a scale from 1 to 16, and measures an air filter’s capacity to trap particles from the air based on three different size ranges.

Within each of these three size ranges, there are four sub-ranges, so air filters are really measured against a total of 12 different size ranges. The 16-point scale works in ascending order, so the higher the MERV rating, and the greater the efficiency of the air filter. (1)

The problem with the MERV standard is that the measurements don’t follow strict logic. For example, you would assume that an air filter rated a MERV 8 would capture 50 percent of all airborne particles, but a MERV-8 filter is only rated to trap about five percent of harmful particles.

That’s because the 16-point scale doesn’t work in exact accordance with logical percentages, so it’s difficult for consumers to know just how efficient their air filters are based on the MERV point system.

The New ISO 16890 Standard Changes the Game

This confusion regarding MERV is not the only reason air filter efficiency ratings are difficult to understand. Another reason is that the U.S. is on a different standard than countries in Europe, which means consumers cannot make valid comparisons about air filter efficiency.

That’s why the new ISO 16890 Standard changes the game for consumers and manufacturers of air filters.

It levels the playing field, so that consumers can now judge every air filter manufacturer based on the same set of standards throughout the world.

According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO 16890 is the first high-efficiency air filter standard based on a filter’s ability to trap particulate matter (PM) consistent with values published by air quality authorities, pollutants identified as the most harmful to human health. (2)

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), PM is created from a variety of sources such as vehicle exhaust emissions, power plant emissions, coal-burning and wood stoves. (3) Long-term exposure to PM has been linked to eye irritation, difficulty breathing, and lung cancer, and heart disease.

The new standard measures how well air filters trap PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 levels, so unlike previous standards, there are only three size ranges and three pollutants being measured.

The 10, 2.5 and 1 designations refer to the diameter of particulate matter in micrometers, and these three sizes are the most harmful because their microscopic size makes them easy to swallow or inhale.

“The new ISO 16890 standard is a game-changer for the air filtration industry,” stated Kevin Wood, Camfil USA Vice President Sales & Marketing. “Until this point, there had never been a global standard for high-efficiency air filters. Therefore, air filter consumers could not decide which filter was superior, because different countries were operating under different standards. With ISO 16890, consumers can make valid comparisons between air filters, especially since PM remains the biggest health threat to indoor air quality.”

Particulate Matter Prevention Methods

The fact that high-efficiency air filters are now being measured based on PM is important because these pollutants pose the biggest risk to human health. Some of the PM prevention methods you can take, include:

Check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Air Quality Index – this is a daily listing that tells you the air quality in your area, and how harmful it could be, especially to people with respiratory problems such as asthma.

Limit outdoor activities on days when PM levels are elevated.

Limit the time you spend on busy streets to lower your exposure to vehicle emissions

For more than 50 years, Camfil has been the industry leader in commercial air filtration, and with that leadership comes a desire to ensure that efficiency standards continue to evolve. Camfil’s driving principle is providing quality at an affordable price, and the company’s guiding principle is that clean air should be every human’s right.